Imperial (ferndale, DTW)

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Imperial (ferndale, DTW)

New Taco place opened next to Como's on 9 and woodward. Soft opening last Wednesday. Real opening was this weekend. I visited this establishment Sunday night.

Decor: Super cool. Love it. sleek hardwood everywhere. Angular everything. They're participating in the new cafeteria/bench seating fad. It fits the casual feeling of it. Great art-work. and the patio in the back is gonna be one of the best hang-out spots in Se-MI, albeit a touch small.

Service: Growing pains, but A+ for effort and heart.

Drinks: They had again limited service. Tried a bunch of lesser known Mexican beers.. all with the same reaction: Meh. However, their mixed drinks/cocktails were excellent. Not as artisanal as Oakland/Sugar House, but very ,very good. The steeped Vodka wasn't ready for action yet, something that my liver has a soft spot for.

Food: BIG thumbs up. We talked to the owner and he said his inspiration were the taco trucks of LA. Carnitas, Al Pastor, Tinga De pollo, Adobada, Carne Asada, Papas con rojas, and Vegetarian. I tried them all except carnitas and vegetarian. Double soft flavorful tortillas with heaps of stuffing. Comes with those little slices of limes, but alas no radishes (which i'm not a fan of anyway). Al Pastor, excellent. marinated pork with griled pineapple. A touch of heat, sweetness, and saltiness. moist, flavorful. deelish. tinga: stewed chicken. Also excellent. Adobada: one of their weaker ones, especially since I was looking forward to it. chili lime grilled chicken. Dry, not as flavorful as I imagined. Use Thigh meat guys!! Carne Asada: Again, another sub-par. They use braised stringy meat, instead of nice chucks of steak. Creates a textural problem for me. Papas con rojas: probably my fav. Dry Salty chorizo with bits of potatoe.